Considering the ramification of not doing anything as we enter and begin the journey of this post modern age...We miss out on reaching a culture who has lost faith in trivial things that do not matter.This is exciting as we must understand that this means trivial and superficial is not the "cool" but is "on the out".As one puts his finger on the pulse of culture around us... We see people seeking something... "The Real".As a post modern Christian I see this as a real opportunity to introduce the ones who do not Know Jesus... The Real Jesus.Modernity has gone it's full road... The world has out grown moderns view of God and religion. But, no one can outgrow the Living God and His Son our Messiah.If we believe that Jesus is Real... Then we have no fear in sharing this with others. Especially those who seek the Real.It is as if those of postmodern age...Or as this thinker stated, the "post-post-modern age", have become like children again in their attempt to see things in a new light...New experience as to see things as Real.We must move forward...Not just think "attack Darwin and evolution" or other modern Demigods...who have failed on their own to answer life's Real questions.Jesus tells us "Do not fear for I am with you always".Do we believe this?

1 Corinthians 15:12. But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13. If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. 20. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (NIV)

This case is so disturbing on many different levels...1. I do not want the gov't to get involved in a tough enough decision as letting a loved one die.2. Courts should not have the right to give the death sentence to an innocent.3. Even if a hint of the possibility of an allegation of abuse and contributing to Terri's condition was caused by her husband the court should step in to investigate "that". Mean while leaving in the tube. This would show more respect for Terri if these allegations are remotely true.4. Removing a feeding tube is not the same as removing a breathing machine or removing dialysis or any other "life support.5. When my stepfather in-law was dying of cancer (starvation because he could no longer take any matter in) we were allowed to give comfort and put a wet sponge to his lips and tongue to relieve some of the pain...The morphine did the rest. Terri's is being denied this comfort as she "humanely starves to death".6. Get a living will at the very least...A medical power of attorney is better...(I think that is what it is called).7. If there is no real statement from the person (Terri) then who ever is willing to take care of the person should be able to...As in the family.8. Who is to judge when a life has "quality of living" many handicapped people have more severe issues that Terri yet are allowed to live...For now.9. I have seen animals treated and put to death more humanely than what we are witnessing here with Terri.10. I see this as a huge change of values in America... I see this as leading toward something very sinister... I recently published a post on my other blog Baby Shelton update about fetal testing to find out if our baby might have down syndrome...We decided to not have the tests as we would love her anyway. It is sad to think some parents choose other wise and that we even have a choose. (I know this testing can scan for many other problems... But even those do not mean we have a right or privilege to take a life... Even if yet unborn. If we allow this case to set precedent that we can kill someone if they are deemed not as fit as the rest of us...Well, I can see the rise of Nazism in America.... ( our daughter seems to be healthy).11. With at least 2 sworn affidavits saying Mike (Terri's husband... Using that term perversely) saying he has called her a "bitch" and "when is she going to die?" even possible injecting her with insulin to cause her to go into shock...12. Even though I see it should never had to involve Congress... But it did and they said to have a "new trial" why did a Fed Judge refuse to do this... I see this as contempt of congress.13. We must realize that Judges are to view "the Law" which as someone said in this case..."Those who think law is the answer to our problems need to face the reality that law is a crude and blunt instrument." I agree. As with the "Law of Moses" that we as Christians are no longer under as we are under Christ and the Higher Law of Love, there is no mercy under the Law.14. Terri Schiavo wasn't dying until she was denied food and water by court order. If a parent or pet owner locked their child or pet in a room without food and water, is that letting her die? Do you think a court would accept that as a defense?15. If Terri has been in a persistent vegetative state since 1990. Why is she been known to respond to her parents and sit up and even swallow jello? When has her brain activity ceased?16. If we depend on the legal system to create law... We the people will lose our freedoms. We need to diligently guard ourselves... So get that living will!17. IF YOU DENY ANY ONE FOOD OR WATER THEY WILL DIE... So why can't the family at least give her water? This is murder! Not letting her die...With dignity!18. We being a so called "Christian" nation...(I don't agree with that we are a Christian Nation) should never even be having this discussion...19. Mike (Terri's husband...Again using that term loosely) gave up his "right as husband when he shacked up with his new "common law" wife and had two kids with her... I am not judging him for moving on... Just "hanging on" without considering Terri's families position.iggy

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

OK,My new friend "the token Catholic" Hugo, had this quiz link.... I did it and this was my results.I do not think that the quiz truly represented my beliefs though.. As Question 12 I did not agree with any of the choices.It is fun though.Here is the thing I agree with #2. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (92%) and am intrigued by #1 Orthodox Quaker (100%) ... Would I be disqualified if i support the war on terrorism and would fight for my country? In many ways I am a pacifist, yet, I do not think I am pure enough to be a quaker.but #3?I do not hold that Saturday is "the" day of worshipnor do I agree with much of their doctrine. Maybe I am influenced by these Seventh day Bible books they sold my mom and I read when I was young.#4. Eastern Orthodox (83%) I agree as It is a more mystical approach in belief... But still too legalistic for me.#5. Roman Catholic (83%) I am called by my "anti-Catholic" friends...(using the term loosely) that I am a "Catholic lover".#6. I do seem to have a bit of a "liberal" bent at times (cuz I love Catholics?)hahaha.#7. Orthodox Judaism (56%) Maybe Messianic Jew... But I doubt that is orthodox.#8. Liberal Quakers (55%) Again with the Quakers? I may need to look into this more.#9 - 27 HUH? I was accused of being a Unitarian...But they had no clue what they were talking about.

Monday, March 21, 2005

Sacrifice... that is what Easter or as I would rather call resurrection Day is about.I have always heard of how Jesus was the Lamb of God... even the teaching of the "scapegoat"...either being a reference to Jesus or Azuzal being the devil...cast out to the desert with laying of hands tranfering the sins of the people onto the Scapegoat.But, I have never heard anyone explain why the sacrifice of the bull or ox was so important...if you read it is refered in the sacrificial system as the big sacrifice...a sign of prosperity and wealth...But, I began thinking and searching around and found one link that refered to this sacrifice. It brought out something that caught my eye... God being like and Ox as God's Word uses an ox to represent strong, patient, enduring and uncomplaining service. An ox was known for strength... often able to go on in it's work for hours of intense hard labor...and if not watched could literally work itself to death. Jesus was like the Ox...He went on to do His Father's work... until death. We are to trust the finished work of Jesus on the cross...we can't add to it or make it any more perfect than it is and was...In this sense Jesus was the Bull of the Lord...the great sacrifice...the highest of all sacrifices. Have a blessed Resurrection Day.Blessed, iggy

Disclaimer:This is part of another comment section on JP's Blog.... I guess I am feeling lazy today and this is the most inspired thinking I can muster.

We have great freedom in Christ... but not all things are beneficial. The main point is do we accept those who do not fit our idea of the "Christian" or do we cram them into “our” image of Christ.I believe when one is in Christ, one has the Holy Spirit to guide them... but also God wants us to have fellowship with one another.In Emerging thought we call this community. Each community must find its "values". In some community it may be important that we learn to approach "middle class peoples" in some the homeless. One friend calls his "People" his "tribe”. Issues of the early churches varied with every church... not all had the same problems...Galatians battled legalism while Corinth well battle a too permissive Grace. (A man amongst you brags about sleeping with his father’s wife?!...Slight paraphrase).I was in a service last Sunday where the pastor was trying to explain that we live by principles... not rules... I tapped my wife on the shoulder and she turned and said what I was thinking... "Don’t we live by the life of Christ?"From the outsider looking in principles and rules are the same thing... there is no difference.We as a church must learn to understand our culture and reach out to it... embrace the "seekers" and bring them into community.Kristin brought up music. Great example.If one is reaching out to the death metal culture... then we need to understand it. The difference is that though I can't relate to that "style", others might, and reach those yet to find Christ. I know many who do not enjoy Miles Davis as I do. My wife always asks... "Can we listen to something else?" I always say, "He's a jazz giant". In other words she would not relate to that part of the "Jazz" community.The idea is to accept the people and bring them into community that leads to developing values of that community that in turn can reach out and reach more people of the culture around us.To many churches have isolated themselves from culture and wonder why no one enters their doors. One church in Billings thinks that their church growth program is to keep the church from growing.... literally! I think without realizing it many churches do this or send the signal to their community this message.I find it interesting that Jesus was condemned for sitting with people the religious people would not accept. Jesus said it was the sick that need the Doctor…not the well. The issue is that we are all sick.In some ways we have gotten too attached to the idea of how we “do church” here in America. I was told I did not have a church because I had too few members… and meet at a coffee shop. Yet, I recall sitting in a church that had about 6 people sitting in the pews and thinking that these people had nothing to do with each other outside of church and seemed to be content with their “religious duty” of attending church.The idea of community is the development of the people in the fellowship. In other words growth. Will mistakes be made on the way? You betcha! (as we say in Montana).That is all a part of growth.Blessed,iggy

Friday, March 18, 2005

Blogging has been one of those milestone events in my life...boy that sounds sad in a way.What I mean is it has opened up the world in a new way. I have made friends, maybe a few enemies (not that I know any) and have had some of the most interesting discussions I have had in years.The most current ones:Homosexuality: with the token Catholic...Hugo Baptism: with JP a member of the Church of ChristPostmodernism: more discussion with JPDiscussion with Kristen...(man she is one sharp cookie) Should women wear a head covering read her blog Heads and HairThese are all good reads...no, not just because I am in the conversation...Here is the most touching one...from my neice in California. A poem to the newest edition of Sheltons to be born in July we call Baby Girl, (until we have a name): ChrissyBlessed,iggy

Wednesday, March 09, 2005

A little girl... or as the ultrasound tech said...we have a "hamburger" and not a "turtle"...(just think a little bit about it).We are excited... we admit we were thinking "boy" yet we never thought "not a girl" if you know what I mean.Now, we are in a serious search for a girls name. May is a family name as my grandmother and mother had it as a middle name. I guess that is a given.SedaCalicaRainyCarly

Tuesday, March 08, 2005

Head Leaves Korn For Christ!Wow!Sometimes news hits you with ton of bricks...Now I was not a big Korn fan...but I must say besides soundgarden the downtuned sound was taken to an all new level with Korn. I remember listening to them for the first time...though I can't remember the song's name the topic was the singers molestation as a child...you could hear real pain as he screamed as in a primal scream therapy...I remember they did not play that song live as it had such an effect on him.Now Brian "Head" Welch one of the guitarists has professed Christ and was baptized in the Jordan river... he also has quit the group.Now, will this be the Bob Dylan of this generation? Will the Church burn him out like they did Dylan? I pray not. All in all though...God is good!blessings,iggyStory here